Wide Open Playoff Race for the Chargers | Stopping the Ground Game

Matt “ Money” Smith and Lorenzo Neal dive into the Chargers’ status coming out of their bye week, heading into Thanksgiving, and preview their upcoming matchup against the Raiders. They discuss the challenging AFC landscape, noting there’s no truly dominant team. They emphasize the Raiders game as a must-win for the Chargers and evaluate the team’s playoff prospects and the current division standings, making sense of the schedule and the crucial games ahead.

39 comments

  4. Gotta push back on the Chargers getting it done against bad teams. I think last year that was certainly the case with maybe one hiccup against the Cardinals (Falcons too honestly, intercepted Cousins 4 times and only won by 4).

    This year though (and it's not even over) I count 4 games. Giants (2-10), Commanders (3-8), Dolphins (4-7), and Titans (1-10).

    Those first two were losses straight up, and the Commanders one was a blowout. The Dolphins and Titans are also bad teams, but we didn't put them away. We barely won against the Dolphins, and we gifted the Titans 14 points to start the game, only gaining our first lead with 20 seconds left in the first half.

    Just to put it into perspective, we played 9 teams with a losing record last year and beat 7 of them by multiple scores (7/9). This year we have played 6 teams with a losing record and only beat 2 of them by multiple scores (2/6). So that's going from 77.8% last year to 33.3% this year.

    Not good.

  5. Charger fans .. we’re not making playoffs let’s just be real .. we’ll beat raiders (Maybe) then there’s not a team remaining that we’ll beat.. next year our year . This year is SHOT

  6. You talked about our frist 3 wins, but we also had Joe Alt playing which made a big difference. I think we'll finish 9-8 based upon the remaining schedule. We'll beat the Raiders and the Cowboys in a close one and lose the other 4.

  10. Money you talked about Chargers winning all the games they were supposed to last year but I disagree. They should have beat the Cardinals last year but took care of business against the rest of the teams. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Lo Neal!

  13. If we have a lead, Greg Roman will do whatever he can to keep it close. I would sell my house if Roman could maintain a 30 point lead on a lesser opponent. What I would give to have a OC who wants to run up the score. Oh well, maybe some other season.

  18. The reason the gameplan worked against the Vikings is because Herbert is insanely good against the blitz. What is a blitz? It's when you take guys out of coverage to rush the passer.

    Herbert is good against the blitz because he can diagnose quickly and find the open zone or favorable one-on-one matchup where the blitzer(s) came from.

    The problem? Nobody who is paying attention should be blitzing Herbert. Why? You're going to get nearly the same amount of pressure just rushing 4 against this horrible offensive line as you are blitzing. On top of that, if you're only rushing 4, then you are not taking guys out of coverage, and Herbert won't have the easy outlets to counteract the pressure.

    So yes, spreading it out can work if you're expecting a blitz, but as I said, any defensive coordinator who turns on the film for a couple plays will understand that they just shouldn't blitz. And if they're not blitzing, well then they're still getting quick pressure with no openings in coverage. That's why this team needs to roll out more heavy personnel and pass protection because it's the best and possibly only way to counteract the defensive gameplan you should be expecting on like 90% of snaps.

    Oh, also defenses have keyed in on the quick targets to Keenan Allen evidenced by multiple almost intercepted passes early in the game in recent weeks.

  20. Zion needs to be back next year.

    With the injuries to Alt and Slater, you probably want to bring in another swing tackle for insurance. Becton just has not been healthy and is looking like a cut, so you need a RG. Bozeman has been bad at C, and he only has 1 more year under contract anyways.

    Basically, you're looking for RG, C, and T in the draft and free agency. It's already highly unlikely you hit at all three of those positions, but now you want to throw in LG as well?

    No. Zion is a proven commodity that at least solidifies the line. I still think he can be elite like he was with Linsley at C that one year, but you're at least getting average play, and average play next to Slater or Alt is pretty good.

  26. Looking at Playoff team remaining schedule, the Broncos are taking the Division, the Bills will be 5th seed unless there is a meltdown, I don't think the Steelers will make it unless the go on a great run, which means 2x spots for 4x teams:

    currently Chargers and Jaguars at 7-4, Chiefs and Texans at 6-5. Looking at each teams schedule, the easiest is the Jaguars (who hold the tie breaker against us), I see them getting the 3x wins they need to end at 10-7, clinching the 6th seed, which really only leaves 1x seed up for grabs between the Chargers, Chiefs and Texans, which all still have to play each other, but the Chargers have the toughest remaining schedule…

    If the Chiefs play up to their reputation they should get at least 3 wins, but will need to beat us in KC…that will be the season game, whoever wins that will go through, plus we will be depending on other teams to do us a favor and beat them in other games. Houston is still in it, they play the Chiefs, and they play us as well, so those are must win games for Houston (and that big, bad defense, which is not a good matchup for us at all)as well…

    So the realistic expectations are for us to beat the Raiders, possible lose against the Eagles, the Cowboys are beatable, so hopefully 9-5 with those, Broncos in the last game will be a tough matchup against the best defense in football, maybe they will lock the 1st seed by then and play second stringers, but we need to go into Mile High 10-6, so it is really going to go down to having to beat both the Chiefs and Texans, as simple as that. Both games will be worth double, so that's what we need, as long as we beat the Raiders, and perhaps sneak another win at Dallas, it will come down to 2x wins against the Chiefs and Texans…

    That is why that loss against the Jaguars changed everything…the biggest issue with our schedule is exactly the matchups: Raiders, Eagles, Texans and Broncos expose our weakness in O-line with their pass rush, so more pressure and sacks for Justin Herbert in those games. Dallas and Chiefs aren´t as scary on Defense, but all teams will be teeing off on our O-line, so that is really what is going to define our season. We are also bad against the run, so we need our Defense to play to their potential, because I feel that it's going to be our Defense that will give us the chance to make the play-offs.

    Bottom line…besides the obvious Raiders game, we need to beat the Chiefs and Texans to make the play-offs…

  30. The difference between Herbert’s rookie year and the current offense is simple. Shane Steichen knows what he’s doing. Greg Roman doesn’t.

  31. If the Bolts could figure out how to properly prepare for east coast games, they’d have at least 2 more victories. The fact that they are only 1 of two AFC “West” teams that play in PST, makes a HUGE difference.

  32. "Played like crude vs jaguars, looked flat"?? Chargers players quit, they took a beach day, money! It was disgusting and embarrassing. Nfl players. Totally unnaceptable. They didn't just play bad, they took the day off. And it's not the 1st time!

  37. I love it when Money lets his usual, professional, steely reserve open just a crack and jabs at the irrationality and negativity in this fanbase. (Probably all fanbases, but this one is the most negative I have ever been part of.) I love that Money, while the consummate professional, still has passion for these people and this team. Players, coaches, staff, ownership and us fans. You are appreciated for your skillful tightrope walking, Money.

    Happy Thanksgiving to all. Go Bolts. ⚡

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